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Help/Advice for a Beginner?

Author: moe729
Date: 2010-12-31 19:47

Hi everyone,

I've been playing percussion for about 7 years now and I decided that I'd finally play a wind instrument. I've been wanting to play clarinet for a while and I decided to go ahead and get a cheap one from Amazon for $100 (probably not the best decision). Anyway, I recieved the instrument aobut 3 days ago and I realized that it didn't come with cork grease and I don't live near, nor do I have transportation to a music store. So, I looked online and saw that vaseline could be used as cork grease.

So I used it and my instrument is still kinda hard to take apart and put together. I'm assuming that this is occurring because it's new, but I'll try putting some more vaseline on it until I can get to the store next week to get some cork grease.

My first question is: 1) Is this ok? Or should I just stop playing until I get cork grease to keep from damaging my clarinet?

I don't have a teacher as of yet. (I can't really afford one) but I am in a band with percussion as my primary instrument.

Also, I have watched numerous videos and articles about embouchure. I'm making adjustments as I go along. Next question: 2) My bottom teeth are cutting the inside of my bottom lip. Is this normal?

In addition, when I play, I have this really airy tone. You can hear the note, but there is still this lingering sound of air that's really bothering me. Question #3) Is there something wrong with my embouchre? Does my instrument have a leak? Or is my reed too hard? (I'm playing on a Rico strength 2).

Then, tonguing. Question #4) How exactly do I do this? I know the syllable to say, but am I touching the reed? Or am I stopping the air with my tongue? I'm confused. I played for one of my friends on the phone and they say that they hear my syllable, but not the note being played. She thinks that I'm double tonguing somehow.

Finally, when I go to clean out my clarinet, my swab gets stuck in the lower joint. Question #5) Should I continue to pull it through? I don't want to break my new isntrument. Or should I buy a new, thinner swab?

I've talked to some of my fellow band members who have played wind isntruments and they can't really help unless I play in front of them (which is impossible due to the holiday break).

If anyone has any advice and can help, it's greatly appreciated!

Post Edited (2010-12-31 20:04)

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